Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” As a matter of fact, Jesus goes on to describe seven more kinds of people who are blessed. We call these sayings the “Beatitudes.”
What does it mean to be blessed? We often use that word when things are going well. We say we are blessed when we have good health and a loving family. We say we are blessed when we have a comfortable home and a good job. We say we are blessed when we have enough money to pay our bills. And certainly, these things are gifts from God. We are thankful for family and work.
But what happens when those things are taken away? What happens when we become sick or lose a loved one? What happens when we struggle to pay the bills? Are we still blessed? The world would say no. The world says that if you are happy and prosperous, then you are blessed. The world also says that if you are sad or suffering, then you must be cursed by God.
But Jesus, however, teaches something entirely different. He says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit. Blessed are those who mourn. Blessed are the meek.” Jesus turns the world’s understanding of happiness upside down. He calls those blessed whom the world considers unfortunate. Jesus says blessed are the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, and those who are persecuted.
How can this be? Because true blessedness is not found in what we possess. True blessedness is not found in how well our earthly lives are going. True blessedness is found in Jesus and the salvation He gives. We are blessed not because our lives are free from suffering. We are blessed because Jesus suffered for us and in our place. We are blessed because He has given us His kingdom, His righteousness, and the promise of eternal life.
Jesus begins His Beatitudes by saying, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” To be poor in spirit does not mean that we lack money. It means that we have nothing to offer God. We cannot earn His favor through our good works. We cannot overcome our sin by our own strength. Even those who possess great earthly wealth are poor in spirit because they are sinful by nature. We are poor in spirit. We stand before God as poor, miserable sinners who need His mercy. We have no spiritual resources on our own.
Jesus was poor in spirit having our sins upon himself. He humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross for your sake. Jesus became poor for your sake so that you might become rich with His righteousness. Therefore, because of Jesus, the kingdom of heaven is yours. The text does not say that the kingdom of heaven might be yours or could be yours. It says that it is yours now and forevermore through faith in Christ.
Jesus continues, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” We mourn because we live in a world corrupted by sin. We mourn when our loved ones die. Jesus mourned over the death of Lazarus. We mourn when sickness and suffering enter our lives or those whom we love. We mourn when we see the wickedness of the world. We also mourn over our own sins.
Jesus said that those who mourn shall be comforted. You are comforted in knowing that your loved one who died in the faith is with our Lord in heaven. Your comfort is Jesus, who has conquered sin and death. Your comfort is in the Gospel which forgives your sins. You mourn now, but in heaven Jesus will wipe away every tear from your eyes.
“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” The world tells us that the strong and powerful get ahead in life. The world tells us that those who fight for themselves and demand their rights seem to come out on top.
But Jesus teaches us that the meek are blessed. Meekness does not mean weakness. It means that you trust God rather than seeking revenge. It means that you do not insist on getting your own way. Jesus Himself is the perfect example. He did not retaliate when He was mocked and beaten. He willingly suffered and died for you. And because He has risen from the dead, you have the promise that you will inherit eternal life.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.” We recognize that we are not righteous in ourselves. Even our best works are stained by sin. We hunger and thirst for a righteousness that we cannot produce. We struggle against our sinful nature. We yearn for righteousness.
Jesus satisfies that hunger by giving you His own righteousness. In the Lord’s Supper, your hunger and thirst will be satisfied. You will eat and drink. In the bread and wine, Jesus gives you His body and blood.
Do you see what Jesus is teaching? So far in this list of beatitudes, we learn that our Christian life will not always an easy life. We mourn, struggle, and suffer. But you are blessed because you belong to Christ. Your hope is not in the things of this world but your hope is in Christ. In heaven, you will be completely free from sin.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.” Jesus Himself is the perfect example. He was merciful to others. He healed the sick. He gave sight to the blind and hearing to the deaf. He even raised the dead. Yet, His greatest act of mercy was when He died upon the cross for your sin and mine. Jesus is merciful to you. You receive His mercy, and you show mercy to others. You forgive those who have wronged you. You help those who are in need. You show kindness to those who are suffering. You care for your family and serve your neighbor. You do not show mercy because you are trying to earn God’s favor. You show mercy because God has already shown mercy to you in Christ.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Who among us can claim to have a pure heart? None of us can. Our hearts are filled with sinful thoughts and desires. We become jealous, angry, selfish, and discontent. We need God to cleanse us. As David prayed, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10).
Jesus was pure in heart. He never sinned. He never cheated anyone. He was honest at all times. Therefore, he is rightly identified as the spotless lamb of God worthy to die for the sin of the whole world. Through the blood of Jesus, your heart is cleansed from sin. Through God’s Word, the Holy Spirit sustains your faith. And Jesus promises that one day you will see God face to face.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” God Himself has made peace with us through the death of His Son. We were once enemies of God because of our sin, but Christ reconciled us to the Father through His cross. Jesus is called the Prince of peace. Now, as His children, we seek to make peace with others. We forgive rather than seek revenge. We speak well of our neighbors rather than spread gossip. We seek reconciliation rather than division. We imitate our heavenly Father, who has made peace with us through Jesus.
These are the marks of the Christian. We are not perfect people who have somehow overcome all of our sins. We are forgiven sinners who live by the mercy of Christ. Our good works are the fruits of faith. Just as a good tree produces good fruit, so faith in Christ produces works of love toward our neighbor.
Jesus concludes the Beatitudes by saying, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” We should not be surprised when the world opposes us. Jesus was rejected by the world. He was falsely accused, mocked, beaten, and crucified.
In the Old Testament, the prophets were rejected. In the New Testament, the apostles were imprisoned and put to death. Throughout history, Christians have suffered persecution for confessing the truth of God’s Word. Countless Christians have suffered because they refused to deny their Savior. We recently heard in the news that the Oromo people in Africa suffered persecution because of their faith in Christ.
Even today, we experience hostility when we confess what God’s Word teaches regarding life, marriage, and family. It is tempting to remain silent or to compromise. It is tempting to simply go along with the world to avoid conflict. But Jesus encourages us to remain faithful. He says, “Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven.”
The world may reject us, but God has received us as His children. The world may take away our earthly possessions, but it cannot take away our faith in Christ.
This brings us to the reason we celebrate All Saints’ Day. We remember those who have died and gone on ahead of us. They stand before the throne of God and before the Lamb. They are clothed in white robes. They hold palm branches in their hands. They sing praises to God, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”
These are the saints who have come out of the great tribulation. Their earthly struggles are over. They no longer hunger or thirst. They no longer experience sickness, suffering, or death. God has wiped away every tear from their eyes.
Think about those whom we remember today. Perhaps it is a father or mother, a grandparent, a spouse, a child, or a dear friend. We miss them. We mourn their absence. Death is still our enemy, and it is painful to be separated from those we love.
But we do not mourn as those who have no hope. Jesus has conquered death through His resurrection. Those who die trusting in Jesus are with Him. Their bodies rest in the grave. But on the last day, Christ will raise them from the dead and give them glorified bodies.
Heaven is our goal. The greatest blessing of heaven is that we will see our Savior face to face. There will be no sin, no death, and no sorrow.
And here is something important: When we gather around the altar, we join with angels and archangels and all the company of heaven. The Lord’s Supper is a foretaste of a greater feast to come in heaven. Here in this meal, our Lord feeds us with His body and blood. This meal strengthens our faith and preserves us until the day when we join the saints in heaven.
Dearly beloved in the Lord, do not measure your blessedness by how well things are going in this earthly life. Do not think that God has forgotten you when you experience suffering, sickness, or sorrow. Jesus calls you blessed.
You are blessed because you have been washed in the blood of the Lamb. You are blessed because your sins are forgiven. You are blessed because you are God’s children through faith in Christ. And yours is the kingdom of heaven.
One day, the struggles of this life will be over. We will stand with all the saints before the throne of God and see our Savior face to face. Until that day, continue to receive His gifts, confess His name, love your neighbor, and look forward to the inheritance Christ has prepared for you. God grant this for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
